§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legally held firearms there are in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales (i) in total and (ii) of each type. [12989]
§ Mr. MacleanAt the end of 1994, the latest year for which figures are available, it is estimated that some 375,000 firearms were covered by firearms certificates on 871W issue in England and about 21,700 by firearms certificates on issue in Wales. Information is not held centrally, however, on the type of firearm covered by these firearm certificates.
In addition, some 1,230,800 shotguns were covered by the shotgun certificates on issue in England at the end of 1994, and some 102,300 in Wales.
Figures for Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, but I understand that information on the number of weapons legally held is not available centrally.